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Here are 7 stories from those who did the Veggie Challenge in July/August 2011.

I am now off all the the medication I was taking

My daughter has been a vegetarian on and off (mostly on for several years) after a recent stay with her I ate veggie for a week. I have IBS* and noticed I did not have any symptoms while I was there. I tried to continue eating vegetarian while back at home and noticed a marked improvement in my symptoms as long as I didn't eat any meat, fish or poultry. I am now off all the the medication I was taking (approximately 16 pills a day!) I feel better and have lost some weight. I was surprised my Gastroenterologist never suggested this to me.

My challenge has been trying new recipes and assuring my family that I am getting all the nutrients etc. I need. Fortunately more and more restaurants are offering more vegetarian options or are willing to work with you.

Your site and Challenge has given me some great tools and new recipes to try in continuing my quest to stay healthy. It is also great to know I am not contributing to the abuse of animals and helping to save the precious resources of our earth. Thank you very much for a great resource and I look forward using your site often!

– Lori, age 50-64, Mason, OH

* Many people with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) have trouble digesting meat. If you are vegetarian or vegan and still have trouble with IBS there are further dietary steps you can take. See http://www.livestrong.com/article/466962-vegetarians-irritable-bowel-syndrome/ and  http://www.vegsource.com/articles2/harris_irritable_bowel_syndrome.htm

I have never felt so healthy

I started off the Challenge already wanting to be a vegetarian. In my previous attempts, I'd never made it past day 3 before. A friend told me on my first day to think about all the wonderful things I can eat as opposed to thinking about the restrictions. I was able to maintain a wonderful vegan diet for the past week and two days.

Photo is creative commons from Flickr and shows a pumpkin chickpea burger along with a link to a simple vegan recipe.

I treated myself today with a delicious quinoa and chickpea burger with sauteed mushrooms and a pesto topping on a whole grain bun. I have also been making myself great morning smoothies and delicious green drinks. I have never felt so healthy and had so much energy in my life. And above all, I have managed to lose two inches off my waist in this short week. I feel beautiful!

– Shaun, early 20's, Toronto

Shaun won the random draw for submitting a story during Jul/Aug 2011

The Challenge was most helpful in inspiring me to read more

When I began the Challenge, I was still eating fish and eggs. I had given up meat and dairy for some time. I knew it was time to do more research, and I was tired of hearing myself say "I wish I could eat more of a vegan diet."

The Veggie Challenge was most helpful in inspiring me to read more about everything. I have always been a cook and fervently read and try new recipes, but I had never explored the issues sufficiently. So, I read, Safran Foer's "Eating Animals", and Singer's "The Way We Eat". I also read more from dietitians. I also viewed Earthlings* with my partner, and let's just say he is taking a break from eating meat as well. The last few weeks have given me quite an education, and I feel far mote conscious of the food decisions I am making for myself and my family.

– Gaela, age 30-39, Toronto

*[Earthlings is available at our Toronto Resource Centre for sale or for loan.]

Kicked it up to the next level

Love, love, love the recipes. Have been mostly vegetarian for 20 years, but this Challenge really inspired me to kick it up to the next level, and I am now almost entirely vegan. I just loved having the new recipes to try everyday – I didn't have to get creative in the kitchen after a long day at work – I just made whatever recipe was in the daily email. That is what really made this the most fun. Thank you – I really enjoyed this!

– Kristen, age 40-49, Boise, ID

From way down under in New Zealand

I used to be a vegetarian (ovo-lacto) for nine years until I went back to being an omnivore last year (worst decision ever... ). I 'labeled' myself an omnivore even though I rarely ate meat, fish or poultry. I recently watched Earthlings (don't know why I hadn't seen it before) and am now looking into transitioning over to a mainly vegan diet. I was referred to your Challenge by the NZ vegan Society (they link to it on their site) and I found the nutrition information most useful as this has been my main flaw in being veggie (I'm leaning towards being an un-healthy vego sometimes ;) ).

Keep up the good work!! Nina from all the way down under in New Zealand :)

– Nina, late 20's, Wellington, New Zealand

Nina won the random draw for completing Phase 2 during Jul/Aug 2011

Thanks for the great challenge!

I love the almond miso sauce (from the Day 4 email) and prepared almost every dinner with it. Me and my spouse already cook vegetarian for most of our dinners. So the Challenge wasn't that hard for us / me. But because I have begun to live in a vegetarian way, the recipes enriche our repertoire. Thank you very much for the great challenge!

– Florian, age 30-39, Toronto

IMAGE and LINK ideas: almond miso sauce recipe

I learnt more about being a vegetarian

I tried the recipes and learnt more about being a vegetarian, and living healthy. I am going to keep going with this, I have inspired many of my friends to try this Challenge and they ALL came through. Thanks for the support (:

– Aysia, teen, Kitchener, ON